Centre boss Phil Steel is swapping Sunderland for Newcastle, to become the new manager at the revamped Eldon Square.

Phil may originally be from Berkshire, but he has strong family links to Wearside – and when it comes to football, his affections are staying firmly put.

"My wife is from Fence Houses and my allegiances won't be changing, I can guarantee that much," said Phil.

He came to Wearside almost 10 years ago when the Bridges II extension saw the size of the centre double overnight.

Previous centre boss Kevin Rusby concentrated on the practicalities of running the newly-extended centre and Phil came in to work with tenants and the public.

"Kevin became the operations manager and, because the centre was twice the size, they needed a new manager to come in," Phil recalled.

"I started on the first of August, 2000, so I have been here almost a decade now, which is pretty amazing."

Phil has been a familiar figure on the Wearside business scene during his time at The Bridges and admits it will be hard to leave Sunderland.
But the chance to manage such a high-profile centre was too good to miss.

"Eldon Square is 1.4million square feet now, which is about three times the size of The Bridges," he said.

"So it a big challenge for me – and it is also a big change. It means moving from Land Securities, which owns The Bridges, to a company called Capital, which owns the MetroCentre and Eldon Square.

"I have been here for a long time. I have really enjoyed the company I have worked for and I have loved the people I have worked with.

"More than anything else, I will miss the people of Sunderland, because I think that is what really makes the place."